September 2007
This month, Heidi talks tattoos, photo shop, and pin-up names.
Got a question for Heidi? E-mail
us! And don't forget to read Heidi's print column in Bachelor
Pad Magazine.
I have noticed in some of your pictures you have tattoos and others
there gone. Is this done before or after the picture is taken?
Some people like to use make up on set to cover tats, others do it in
photoshop. It all depends on the photographer or client. I've probably
had them covered up for shoots the same amount of times I've had fake ones
added for shoots! Everyone has a different POV on the tattoo issue! Some
tats you see in photos are fake, and some tattoo-free images are just covered
up! It all depends on the project.
Are you photos photo-shopped (or some other editing program) to make
your skin that clear? How do you feel about this?
I wish someone could photoshop me in real life everyday! he he he...
Thinking of my work, I'd say most of the shots are moderately retouched.
Some shots on my site are without any retouching at all (especially my
own) and a few people I work with are very stylized and their concepts
require lots of post work for a certain effect (the more like a painting
it looks, the more work needs to be done). My skin is good, but not as
good as I'd like. Could be better, but could certainly be worse. I'm sure
there are a blemish or two on each shoot that can be cleared, but no major
disaster-relief photoshopping needed.
As a model, the less time a photographer has to spend clearing you up,
the better (and the more they'll want to work with you!) But the truth
is, the majority of images we see in magazines and on tv, etc. are very
photoshopped! We, as a society, are so accustomed to that, that often when
there are raw, untouched images in mags or online, we are horrified. Truth
is, life has flaws. Some photographers like to find beauty in them, others
want to clean it all up and make it picture perfect. My choice is a happy
medium. I like to look good and no need to keep the blemishes, but certain
"flaws" like scars or freckles and such are part of your beautiful individuality,
and I think its tacky when people choose to gloss them over. Some shoots
it works for a certain look or style, but as a rule I prefer to keep those
things in. I recently shot a good friend for a clothing company, and they
re-retouched my images to remove her moles! I was kind of put off. I know
its a choice, but one that photographers typically make, and I don't choose
to photoshop out the things that make a person who they are. But hey, that's
me.
Hi Heidi!
I first want to thank you for giving your time and wisdom to us girls
that want to be a little more like you! I have found your Q&A page
VERY helpful in my pursuit of a pin up life. Especially since you give
honest and in depth answers with no bologna!
My question is: What is the best way to pick a great pin up alias
or stage name? And how did you pick your perrrfect name?
All the kittens out there have such cute or catchy names (like you!)
and I can't really seam to come up with one for myself. Please give me
any insight you have and tell me how a new kitten should go about picking
a professional name and image. Thank you so much for your time and please
keep up the great work!
Yours,
Veronica
Thanks, Veronica! That means a lot to me! Yeah, I got no bologna
here, lotsa cheese sometimes, but no bologna!
And thanks for complimenting my stage name. I didn't really pick it
out, per se. I used my father's name as an actress for 10 years, and always
had a hard time leaving messages, and having people remember my name. I
had a couple managers over the years tell me to change it, but even
then no one agreed what needed changing! One said “Heidi” would limit me
to bimbo roles! Others, obviously, disliked my last name because it looked
difficult. It just proved to me that it's a personal thing. You have to
feel right with it. It needs to represent YOU, and no matter what you do,
someone won't like it! Oh well! I spent years as an actress saying, “You
can say Schwartzenegger and Zellwegger? You'll learn to say Trenbath, its
not that hard.” Well, apparently it was, because immediately after starting
to use my mother's last name, I started getting more auditions and more
work. The fact is, if you are selling a product, the name has to fit the
goods. The first time I said my name with my mom's last name, I wondered
why it took me so long to figure it out! That said, I started using
Heidi Van Horne long before I started doing pinup, and long before I knew
about the modern scene. If I had known then, I might not have used it,
as now it seems like a cliché pinup girl name. I personally am not
fond of the made up silly stage name thing. I get it if you are a secretary
in Boise and don't want your online persona directly linked to your “real”
life, or if you just want to do a focused thing in modeling and your name
fits that, but for the average pin up gal, I think using your real name
or variation of your name is best. Stay away from full real names unless
you are a professional and use that for business and have P.O. Boxes and
agents and stuff to keep you safer! Many top pin up models, actually
use their real names--Sabina, Masuimi, Bernie--those aren't made up!
Now, if you are dead set on using a fake name, use something that pertains
to YOU. Not just some generic gathering of pinup-friendly words!
The things You like, do, or things that look like you or your style.
What makes you unique? Try using your real first name or family nickname
as the base and build from there. Just google it before declaring
yourself that and make sure you aren't infringing on anyone's name that
is already out there! Maybe check Model Mayhem and places like
that, too, to be sure you won't be flooding a market with what's already
around! You won't stand out to photographers or companies like that!
Good luck honey! And if Veronica is your real first name, then
you're off to a GREAT start!
Love and Pin-Ups!
Heidi Van Horne
www.HeidiVanHorne.com
A little about Heidi: "I starting acting
in Texas at age 13, I have worked and trained as an actress in film, TV
& commercials for most of my life, as well as working behind the lens
on various projects. I have been shooting my own retro pinups since late
2003, when I started doing self-shot photos (just like Bunny
Yeager did!) with a self timer and a tripod in my home. Since
then, I've been on the cover of 3 books ("Hot Rod Pin Ups" by David
Perry and MBI Publishing, "How to Be a Dominant Diva" by Avalon
Press, and the new "Modern Vixens: World of Winytiki" by Octavio
Arizala and Goliath Press) as well as being featured on the
cover of 3 (and inside 2 other) Pin Up Calendars for 2007, magazine covers
and countless layouts, features and interviews in counter-culture publications,
as well as a few mainstream mags. I've gotten to work with tons of amazing
companies and photographers, including original pinup, pinup photographer
& living legend, Bunny Yeager--shooting on the same beach
where she and Bettie Page made
Pin Up history! Living in LA pursuing my acting, I've kept myself busy
on the side shooting the genre I love the most- and I'm thrilled to see
how the niche has grown and grown worldwide!" |
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